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Res Ipsa Loquitur

By SusanUnPC on December 28, 2007 at 1:33 AM in Clinton, Obama, Pakistan


Then, the next segment:

Video from “Bhutto Assassination Could be a Change Event,” by Taylor Marsh, who adds:

No one was caught looking as clueless as Mike Huckabee, but I’m not sure what to make of Mr. Obama’s statement today. Even Chris Matthews called it “cold.” I’m stunned he was reading it so mechanically, but even more taken aback that he seemed to have no connection whatsoever to the event itself. Add to this the Axelrod gaffe, and what a horrible day for the Obama team at a time he cannot afford it.

Adds radio host Marsh, “Axelrod is now freaked at the developing story, which has gone wide. Marc Ambinder got an unsolicited phone call from Mr. Axelrod, which says it all”:

“It was an answer to the question — in no way was I implying that she was personally responsible for what happened.” … ..

… .. “Everyone who was there understands the context. There were 20 reporters there and only one who wrote that. I know that [Clinton spokesman] Phil [Singer] and [communications director] Howard Wolfson are …trying to stoke the meager, flickering embers, but there’s just no fire there.”

Taylor then points out:

This has absolutely nothing to do with Phil Singer and the Clinton camp. This is about Mr. Axelrod’s desperate attempt to cover for what is now unfolding, which is every single pundit on cable is blathering about Senator Obama’s lack of experience at a moment of crisis. When you look at the video above it only drives the disconnect to Axelrod’s candidate home. Obama couldn’t look any more robotic at a time of crisis and completely disconnected to the event.

Regardless of how you feel about Clinton, the video above shows the exact opposite. …

Read all: “Bhutto Assassination Could be a Change Event,” by Taylor Marsh

SEE ALSO:

  • “Obama’s Bizarre Reactions To Bhutto’s Assassination,” a front-page story at MyDD.com
  • “Did Hillary Clinton kill Benazir Bhutto?,” by Reza Aslan, AC360 Contributor, Anderson Cooper 360 blog, CNN. Writes Ms. Asian:

    … Axelrod’s comments are not just distasteful. They’re nonsensical. Exactly how were we diverted from Pakistan because of the war in Iraq? If it weren’t for the Iraq war, and the larger war on terror, we would not give Pakistan a second’s thought. The country would still be under US sanctions for its illegal nuclear program.

    Perhaps Axelrod means to say that our presence in Iraq has elevated the terrorist threat in Pakistan, thereby forcing the US into an uncomfortably cozy relationship with — and $10 billion in aid to — the country’s military dictator, Pervez Musharraf, which he seems to have squandered on military equipment to maintain a police state rather than fight al-Qaeda elements in the country, thereby compelling the US to send in Bhutto under a power sharing agreement with Musharraf to salvage what’s left of Pakistan’s democracy, thus tainting her as an American stooge and leading to her assassination by the very same al-Qaeda elements that Musharraf has yet to do anything about.

    Perhaps.

    One thing is certain though. If things continue to spiral out of control in the wake of Bhutto’s death, Obama might get his chance to fulfill a campaign promise to invade Pakistan were Pervez Musharraf to lose power in a coup.

  • Masslib

    It’s weird. I’ve read that Obama can be distant at times. But, this seemed like a guy who was a bit overwhelmed.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      It was robotic. It was a bit reminiscent of the Dukakis response to that debate question. Now, the other candidates weren’t overtly emotional, but there was the sense of connection. Joe Biden was on TV this afternoon, and was — well — he was Joe Biden. He was engaged, thinking quickly, talking about numerous implications, telling us what he’d done BEFORE the assassination to try to secure more protection for Ms. Bhutto. Sen. Dodd was also thoughtful on TV today.

      Now, Sens. Biden, Dodd and Obama are all on the Foreign Relations committee. But Biden and Dodd were able to talk in depth, and with crisp information distilled from years of knowledge and experience, about what they had done BEFORE her assassination, including their meetings with her. (Similarly, Sen. Clinton was able to talk from a strong base of experience with and knowledge of Ms. Bhutto, over the last 15 years.) All that Obama could do was make a couple phone calls to an ambassador and some military official AFTER her assassination because, well, he hasn’t done much on the Foreign Relations committee, including chairing his own subcommittee (i.e., he hasn’t held a single hearing).

      • Shirin

        And yet none of the hagiographers, including Hillary, despite her having dressed up in costume for a photo op, seemed aware of Benazir’s record of deep corruption, personal avarice, cronyism, and false promises.

        Hmmmmmmm.

        • rjj

          Is it customary for public figures to orate on the personal vices and political defects of the recently deceased, much less the freshly assassinated?

          It’s politics, American politics, Indian subcontinent politics, global politics, not a fucking first fruits sacrifice (requiring an unblemished offering).

          • rjj

            bad word choice: for sacrifice read ceremony.

          • Shirin

            “Is it customary for public figures to orate on the personal vices and political defects of the recently deceased, much less the freshly assassinated?”

            It depends. What would they all be spouting off about were, say, Fidel Castro to die? What if Hugo Chavez were to be assassinated? Or Kim Jong Il? Or…?

            • Shirin

              Oh yes – what if Bashir Al Asad were to be assassinated? You know, he is far from perfect, but he has certainly brought a lot of improvements to Syrians, and a more open foreign policy, too, since he took over from his father, and yet to hear the American politicians, it is as if he is a clone of his father. I’ll just bet you’d hear nothing but vilification if he were assassinated, and no recognition of anything decent he has ever done, or tried to do.

              • Shirin

                Sorry – I meant Bashar Al Asad, of course.

    • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

      masslib i agree with your analysis of obama … i have suspected for some time now that he doesnt have the experience to carry out the duties of the president. furthermore, this performance would also reveal he doesnt even have the ability to fake competence in times of crisis. was he overwhelmed? you bet he was.

  • CK

    iraq = 168,000 sq. miles, 26.7 million ( 2006 guesstimate )
    Iran = 636,000 sq.miles ( mostly mountainous), 70.4 million people 2006 estimate
    Pakistan = 340,000 sq.miles 161.5 million ( a bit over 1/2 the USA’s population.)

    Invade with whom? How? Amphibious assault maybe or do you think India will play the Kuwait role for us?

    Going to drop nukies that close to China and India? Which way does the prevailing wind blow? Which of our vaunted allies are going to be blasted with nuke waste and detritus?
    If you are going to saber rattle at least have some sort of valid saber, otherwise you look a tad idiotic. According to Timmuh Russert Sunday morning on MTP, the USA has over half a million troops stationed outside the USA; maybe they can go invade.

  • TeakWoodKite

    ??? Who are they talking about? Stop digging.

    trying to stoke the meager, flickering embers, but there’s just no fire there

  • Mr.Murder

    Was Bhutto’s alleged corruption any more widespread than that of countries around Pakisatan, or regimes before or after hers in the same land?

    Kashmir is more an issue than is venture corruption IMO.

    Exactly which political leader in the land said anything about that moral dilemma?

    • Shirin

      “Was Bhutto’s alleged corruption any more widespread than that of countries around Pakisatan, or regimes before or after hers in the same land?”

      A lot of Pakistanis seem to think so.

  • Mr.Murder

    During the Zbiginiew topics here and elsewhere I said that Pakistan is the new Iran.

    ‘Shah’ Musharraf is poised to capitulate…

  • Mr.Murder

    Since the European Affairs Committe could maybe cooridnate items with NATO, who has been in neighboring Afghanistan, maybe Obama could share with us his efforts in chairing meetings with that subcommittee?

    Oh, he gave Cheneyco. a free pass to run all foreign policy in Pakistan. Afghanistan and NATO are too close, so he basically stuck his head in the sand and let the State/OVP run the show.

    No need to step on anyone’s toes and all that.

    Guess who came to dinner?

    • susanunpc

      Ouch. Talk about a perfect shot. Wtg, Mr. M.

  • DCDemocrat

    It seems that Axelrod has contributed to a new media narrative at exactly the wrong moment. When Chris Mathews is not fawning over Obama, Obama has problems. Oprah cannot ride in on her magic flying horse and rescue Obama from a looming world crisis.

    By-the-bye, I was a great admirer of Mrs. Bhutto. I deeply regret what happened yesterday, and I was horrified when I learned of it and intuitively understood its implications. I can see a scenario where events spin out of control, and radicals get a hold on nuclear weapons. This is a critically serious event. What was Musharof thinking not to protect her?

    • CK

      He was probably calculating that her death would be another 3 day tempest in a teapot. Burn a few cars and busses, let a few of the dumber hotheads off each other, and find a way to repatriate the wealth her family stole and steal it himself.
      Eventually someone will off Musharef and another “General” will step in and continue the democratic process of temporary martial law.
      If things start to get out of hand China will handle it.

  • anwaya

    I’m in Delhi staying with a friend who works for the BBC World Service, and we went to the BBC bureau this afternoon. I chatted with Soutik Biswas, a journalist who is covering the story, and we tossed the facts around to come up with a plausible scenario. As a journalist, he can’t write this speculation up, but I can, and I’m using his name with his blessing.

    A previous bombing attempt on Bhutto’s life at a rally failed in part because there were two vehicles, one Bhutto rode in which was bombed, and a second which she transferred to after the attack. Clearly, the bomb isn’t enough to get the target, but there is a short period of vulnerability if the primary transport is disabled and the target has to transfer.

    So this time, we have three core facts to account for: the sunroof, the shooting, and the bomb. Soutik and I figured that the plan this time improved on the previous plan: disable the primary vehicle, and a sniper shoots her during the transfer to a second vehicle. This accounts for the presence of the bomber and the shooter.

    But something different happened: Bhutto popped up out of the sunroof. The sniper sees his opportunity and takes his shots before the bomber can immobilize the SUV. Bhutto falls back into the car, the driver accellerates, and the bomb goes off behind the car. The car goes on about half a kilometer before they realise that the rear tyres are burst, and then they transfer. No-one else in the car is hurt.

    This scenario does not require her immediate entourage to include a mole, urging her to expose herself to danger by standing up and waving out of the sunroof: she only has to make the decision herself, flush with the success of her first rally in the election season, over-confident that the US position on elections and Musharraf’s role after them diminishes the likelihood that Pakistan’s ISI will allow her to be assassinated.

    Or something like this. I’m guessing, of course; and I prefer small-scale cock-up theories to grand conspiracies, which is why I prefer this analysis.

    • http://www.food4humanity.org HoosierHoops

      here is what i don’t understand..Mrs. Bhutto KNEW that people were trying to kill her..With the support she had couldn’t she just have done media and/or political Tv spots. People interviewed her about her life being in danger and she walks through massive crowds and waves standing out of a sunroof…
      Is that bravery or just being stupid? Don’t get me wrong..i’m not trying to blame the victim, I just don’t get it..And her bodyguard was an unarmed woman.

  • hopefully just paranoid

    Does anyone remember that right before 9-11 there was a “ground-moving” assassination of a northern alliance leader in Afghanistan? I’m hopefully just paranoid here, but could this similarly “ground-moving” assassination in Pakistan be a signal for another attack in Europe or the U.S.?

    • Shirin

      Maybe I have the timeline wrong, but I am pretty sure that particular assassination was after Sept 11.

  • Taters

    Sept. 9, 2001 was when Ahmed Shah Massoud was killed.

    • Shirin

      OK – I remembered it wrong. Thanks Taters.

  • reggie

    Wasn’t Bhutto in charge of Pakistan at the time of the formation of the Taliban?

  • GSD

    Musharraff in 2007 smells like the Shah in 1979.

    -GSD

  • Taters

    Shirin,
    No worries. I couldn’t recall so I ggogled. Some reports came as late as Sept. 13.

    OT I have gone from semi goat to minor deity status (We’ll see how long this lasts) here in the Murray household. I fixed my wife a light lunch/snack – a mujaradah “sandwich” – on warm, fresh pita bread with hummus, avocado & tomato, and of course the mujaradah.(sp?). She who must be obeyed was pleased.
    Hey, a guy’s gotta do what he’s gotta do…

    • Shirin

      Mujaddara. :o }

      The sandwich sounds delicious no matter how you spell it!

      The other night I had the BEST mujaddara at a family gathering. It was prepared by my ex’s wife (well, it’s all in the family, anyway). She did a great job with it. I don’t make it that often, but next time I do I will try her technique.

      • Taters

        It was prepared by my ex’s wife (well, it’s all in the family, anyway)

        Shirin,
        That is funny.

        Did you go a concert in 2002, which toured the US, featuring featured Arab & World Music super stars Khaled, Hakim & oud/violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen?
        The first date for Detroit, at the gorgeous Opera House was cancelled, due to 9/11.

        They came back and made up the date and it was amazing. Prior to the concert, we heard two young men, in a good mood, sitting behind us, “How do we really know this THE Khaled, not Khaled from Dearborn?”
        The other guy said, “Yeah, for all we know that might be Hakim from Hamtramck.”
        I couldn’t restrain myself, and burst out laughing. They had perfect comedic timing. My wife did better than I did and restrained her laugh. I turned around and smiled and could tell the young men were pleased that their diatribe received the appropriate response. And they welcomed us. Seated next to us was a lovely young lady who attended the U of Michigan – an American via Palestine. She was charming and graciously took it upon herself to be our host, as if we were family. We were surrounded by smiling people who bade us welcome with their eyes.
        The concert? Absolutely superb and the musicianship phenomenal.

        Here’s a piece on the tour.
        http://www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/69

        • Shirin

          Simon Shaheen is a true virtuoso both on the violin and the `oud. I actually attended one of his concerts last year – or was it earlier this year? I am not always crazy about his fusion stuff, but that is a fairly new area of Arabic music that has a lot of growing up to do. You might have heard of his CD Blue Flame – pretty ground breaking. I mostly prefer when he does more traditional Arabic music, though.

          I am fortunate to study Arabic music theory with one of his students, and another of my teachers is a friend of his.

          Another Arabic artist that you should not miss is the Lebanese `oud player Marcel Khalife. He performs with his sons, who are quite interesting musicians themselves. He does quite a bit of fusion-type stuff, too, some of which works ok, and some of which I find rather jarring. He toured the U.S. this year, and was, as always, awesome. He had quite a difficult time on this tour, unfortunately. The venue for his San Diego concert cancelled on him for political reasons, and they were forced to find another venue at the last moment. And the bass violin was damaged in customs, apparently with no apology, and they were forced to locate and purchase a new one very quickly – not something you can just go out and do, since each instrument is hand made and unique. I can only imagine how upsetting that was for everyone, especially the bassist. Amy Goodman interviewed him on Democracy Now. You can find the interview I am sure by going to Democracynow.org and searching on his name.

          And I have a story about Simon Shaheen. As some people may know, there are tones in Arabic music that do not exist in the western tempered scales. They are referred to as quarter tones in relation to the western scales, but that is not really accurate. In any case, they are a natural part of the Arabic tonality, and are found in most of the Arabic music “scales”. It seems Simon went to talk to one of the great violin masters at Julliard (I think), or some other famous music school in new York, and he played for him – I think it was a Bach Sonata. The master was very impressed and complimented him on his technique, musicality, precise intonation, and sense of style, then he asked him to please play something from the Arabic tradition. When Simon finished, the master looked somewhat quizzical, and said “that was very interesting, really, but your intonation on the Bach was perfect, so why did you play so many notes out of tune on this one?”

          It is true that while the majority of the fine Arabic musicians since the late 19th century have been increasingly well versed in western music, western musicians know nothing about Arabic music, other than it must – they think – consist mostly of simple, primitive folk tunes. They have no idea of the millennia of history and development and the complex and sophisticated system of “scales”, tonalities, rhythms and forms of Arabic music. That is their loss, really.

          • TeakWoodKite

            In the last year you can hear commercials with this tonality and instrumentation creeping into the soundtracks.

            • Shirin

              Interesting. Can you think of any examples? I’d like to check that out.

              By the way, speaking of movie soundtrack music, you know that stereotypical scale that is used to depict the “exotic Arab scene with camels trekking across the desert horizon” – it goes whole step, step-and-a-half, half step? That is known to Arabic musicians as “Hollywood Hejaz”. You see, there is a “scale” – or more accurately a four-tone step-wise sequence known as a jins (kind of equivalent to genus) that is called Hejaz – it sounds kind of like the upper four notes of the western harmonic minor, except that the third tone is somewhat lower in the Hejaz jins than it is in the harmonic minor. Since western movie soundtrack people can only conceptualize it terms of the western tempered scale, the third tone in the soundtrack “Hejaz” is much too high, and the space between the third and fourth tones is too tight, so it sounds really funny to the Arabic musicians ear. So, it is not a real Hejaz, but a “Hollywood Hejaz”.

              • TeakWoodKite

                Off the top of my ears, I heard on a Budwiser soundtrack strains of these sounds. I will start keeping examples in my notes.
                My ear was “jogged” ’cause it wanted one or the other. Kind of like the reaction the “master” had with the different sounds Simon had. What he should have asked is “How did you change your “language” with such ease?” That is very hard to do.

                “Hollywood Hejaz” That is funny.

                • Shirin

                  “What he should have asked is “How did you change your “language” with such ease?””

                  Indeed! But of course the great master had no clue that there was actually more than one language!

                  • TeakWoodKite

                    Yea, They thought a guitar was not a classical intrument, so I played cello instead, going to college.

                    • Shirin

                      Speaking of instruments that are not considered classical, during the 20th century the accordion became a standard instrument for classical Arabic music, and it certainly is not the kind of sound and use that westerners are used to hearing.

                      Although it is a tempered instrument, it can be modified to approximate the microtones, but not 100% accurately for all the ajnas (plural of jins – a jins is a step-wise sequence of usually four or five tones, though a few ajnas have three tones) or maqamat (plural of maqam, which is the Arabic music equivalent of the “scale” – each maqam is a combination of ajnas) because the microtones are not identical for all ajnas.

  • Taters

    The Benazir Bhutto I Knew

    Her death need not be the beginning of Pakistan’s end.
    By Mansoor Ijaz
    from the December 28, 2007 edition

    Benazir Bhutto was a beautiful and idealistic woman when she came to Pakistan’s rescue in 1988. Growing up as the scion of one of its most powerful political families imposed enormous responsibilities on her and created perhaps unrealistic expectations of what she could deliver to save her chaotic country from disintegration. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, reportedly encouraged her as an up-and-coming politician to study the lives of history’s great women leaders, from Joan of Arc to Indira Ghandi, so she could prepare to lead Pakistan.

    -snip-

    I knew Benazir well. I am often blamed by her supporters for having helped bring her government down in 1996 by exposing her hypocrisy and corruption in two Wall Street Journal Op-Ed pieces. We remained in touch over the years after she went into exile, even developing a begrudging respect for each other over time. She struck me as a terribly conflicted person who deep in her heart wanted to save Pakistan from its evils, but was unable to put her personal lifestyle choices aside in doing so. But I firmly believe that she loved Pakistan, and for all her faults, had returned there this time to turn a new page in its troubled political history. We should remember her for her courage to stand up in the face of incalculable odds to bring some semblance of sanity to the disaster that Pakistan has become.
    cont’d
    http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1228/p09s01-coop.html

    • Shirin

      Nice attempt to combine hagiography with just a touch of reality.

      Benazir Bhutto Was beautifuln and glamorous. She was also an avaricious, corrupt, ambitious politician who ran a very corrupt government, did not even try to fulfill her promises to Pakistani women, and mainly lined her pockets and those of her family and cronies at the expense of the Pakistani people.

      There’s nothing exceptional to see here, folks. Move along.

      • CK

        I wonder if the outcry and faux tears all about, would have been so great had it be Sharif who was offed yesterday and Benazir who wasn’t? Not that he was any less of a crook, but he wasn’t Negroponte’s boy in this cockup he is someone elses front.

  • Dee Loralei

    I learn just as much reading the comment section here, as I do the original postings. Shirin, Taters, what is Mujaddara, and how is it made? I’m always looking for new and interesting recipes. I loved the musical postings as well.

    The only eastern guitarist I’m familiar with is Lily Ashfar, the amazing Iranian classical guitarist, she lives and teaches here in Memphis, but is world renowned. So I’ll make note of your suggestions for guitar and oud players.

    Thanks,

    Dee

  • Shirin

    Dee, Iranian music is lovely.

    Simon Shaheen is a wonderful `oud player and is a composer also, as is Marcel Khalife. One of the most revered `oud players is an Iraqi, Munir Bashir. He actually invented a different sort of `oud that has quite a different sound from the traditional `oud, and so you can buy and play a Bashiri `oud if you prefer that sound and feel. You can buy his CD’s online or in international music stores. There is one of Munir Bashir’s students living in New Mexico, and he is also a composer. His name is Rahim Al Haj. I have seen him in person, and met and talked with him, and I like his music very much. You can listen to clips and buy his CD’s at his website here.

    If you would like to hear some traditional Iraqi songs accompanied by `oud from a very good, but relatively unknown musician, may I suggest `Amr Toufiq, whose only CD is the soundtrack of the documentary “About Baghdad”. `Amr Toufiq’s career as a performer was inhibited because he refused to perform for or praise Saddam and his regime. I like his voice and his interpretation very much.

    Mujaddara is really a very simple vegetarian dish made from a combination of lentils and rice with onion. Sometimes burghul wheat is used instead of or in addition to the rice, and of course you can use herbs or spices such as cumin if you like. It is a standard item in most Middle Eastern cook books, and I am sure you can find recipes online as well.